Piermont, NY Piano Lessons

, training is applicable to any new skill.
Last and definitely not least, playing music is fun.

*** Lesson Details ***

I plan my lessons around getting students to enjoy playing music as soon as possible, whether that means learning how to strum a chord rhythmically, playing their favorite song, or how to take a blues solo.
There are steps that have to be climbed to do more complex things and I encourage students to practice a little every day rather than for a long time once or twice a week. Developing a love of music and steady practice habits are more beneficial over the long term than practicing until your limit.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I currently have a living room space where I can teach, but it's small so it might be preferable to travel to you.

*** Travel Equipment ***
If necessary I can provide amplification, cables, and a microphone.

*** Specialties ***
Jazz, Folk, Blues, Rock, Hip-hop, Funk, Reggae.

Manhattan school of music pre college division (where he has been a faculty member since 1994) and piano, theory and composition at the JCC on the Palisades Thurnauer school of music,where he also served as theory department chair from 1999 - 2005.
The newest addition to Dan's expending circle is The Red Bank Regional High School for the performing arts where he has a been a guest lecturer since fall of 2011.

Dan has been giving private lessons of music and music related subjects for over 20 years.

The system Dan developed over the years of teaching is based on two fundamental principles-
The paramount importance of developing sound traditional skills and the strong conviction that you should always tailor the method to the student and never tailor the student to the method.

Dan's eclectic background enables him to draw on a wide range of musical styles and techniques, fulfilling the needs of students from all walks of the musical experience. Lessons are available in the following areas for all ages and levels:

Piano - classical

Piano - contemporary / jazz / Broadway.

Piano - eclectic

Composition

Song writing, arranging and producing

Music theory, General theory, Jazz and popular music theory, a special AP music theory preparation workshop.

*** Lesson Details ***
I am a strong believer in combining traditional skills and sensibilities with a strong affinity to today's musical and pop culture, While I am an extremely patient teacher, I do expect (and achieve) results. If a student starts with me from scratch they should be able to play real piano tunes within 6 months.

*** Studio Equipment ***
living area piano seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
The student needs to have a piano/keyboard

*** Specialties ***
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Broadway, composition, song writing, music for film, production, music history, theory, ear training, AP preparation.

poser, I've penned over 15 charts for Jazz Ensemble, in addition to several charts for Studio Orchestra, Jazz Combos, Chamber Groups, Vocal Groups, and Film, and I've won a few awards, including 1st Place in the International Zurich Jazz Orchestra Composition Competition, a 2011 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award, and a 2012 ASCAP Plus Award. I co-lead a jazz orchestra that has performed in several NYC clubs. My pieces have also been performed by her own chamber group "Community of the Spirit," Kurt Elling and the Metropole Orchestra the Zurich Jazz Orchestra, Todd Coolman's Quintet, the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and Studio Orchestra, Bernie Williams and the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra, Weapons of Jazz Destruction, and others.

I've also been inspired by many teachers along the way. I have a BM in Jazz Writing (Composition) with high distinction from the Eastman School of Music, and an MM in Jazz Arranging from William Paterson University. My composition and piano teachers have included Jim McNeely, Bill Dobbins, Rich DeRosa, Harold Danko, Raymond Torres-Santos, Tony Caramia, and Adrien Cohen, and I am a current member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in NYC.

I'm a very passionate teacher and I'm excited to begin your musical journey!

*** Lesson Details ***
In addition to a customized lesson plan (dependent on your goals, strengths, weaknesses, and interests) you get introduced to a wide variety of styles and concepts. Some of the things you will do in your musical adventure with me include:

1) Learn classical pieces ranging from short Bach Minuets if you're a beginner, to Chopin Nocturnes and Bach Preludes and Fugues if you're advanced.
2) Learn the "why" behind music... Why does this sound quirky? Where does the musical statement end? What harmony is the composer using?
3) Write your own music. We might take a new concept you learned, and you may compose a song based on it. Or you may have your own ideas, and I'll help you take them to the next level.
4) Learn to improvise and learn how to play some jazz. You will play over blues and learn jazz standards. You will also learn how to play by ear.
5) Learn basic conducting.

*** Studio Equipment ***
home: fully-weighted keyboard, seating for parents, music stands, sheet music, printer (for printing custom handouts), free wi-fi
music studio : fully-weighted keyboard, seating for parents, music stands, sheet music, printer (for printing custom handouts), free wi-fi

*** Specialties ***
I teach classical and jazz, and usually like to incorporate both into lessons at some point, even if the student may have a greater interest in one of these (so you don't have the classical pianist that has never played one note not written in the music or doesn't know how to spell a simple major triad, and you don't have a jazz pianist whose reading skills is not up to par, and has no regard for tone/touch). Typically students not only read classical repertoire (Bach, Beethoven, Bartok, Kabelevsky, etc.) but also learn how to improvise over a blues, read a lead sheet, and figure music out by ear. I'm also comfortable with rock styles.

I also have a lot of experience accompanying (musical theatre, instrumental, vocal...) and I like teaching the student how to follow a soloist. I teach students how to read lead sheets so they can read whatever they may get from a vocalist, and I teach chord theory so that they can easier recognize patterns in music when playing with an instrumentalist or vocalist.

I incorporate composition and theory into lessons, usually in conjunction with whatever piece they are learning (explain what type of chords are in their piece, or explain how they move, or why something may sound discordant or may go somewhere expected, or I may teach them phrases in music just like sentences work in English.) I definitely, however, work with students who are more serious in composition as well and talk about how to develop their pieces, how to create ideas, how to get out of a "writers block," orchestration techniques, encourage them to expand their instrumentation, etc.

rk mostly with children, but have a handful of adult beginner students I work with as well.

Everyone is different - and I personally take the time and effort to develop and customize my lessons and materials for each student. I'll push you (a little!), to make you realize just how much you can do!

Music is an all-rounded experience. Not only can I offer you a chance to learn how to play different styles of piano, from jazz to pop to classical, but I can also teach you how to write your own songs, arrange them, and perhaps (if you like) record them!